Is Van Halen Ska?

It is now. RiceRokit have a new cut up on their MySpace page that is unlikely to ever be released for sale (for reasons that will soon become obvious), but you've got to hear it before it disappears into oblivion.

RiceRokit have versioned...wait for it...Van Halen's 1978 classic rawk hit "Runnin' with the Devil!" Before you recoil in horror, just give it a listen. They've put their spin on this song by recording new ska instrumental tracks (with horns!) and then laid Diamond Dave's vocals on top (ah, there's the rub). On paper, you might not think this would work, but Kendo works his magic here and the results are brilliant!

(This is a little off topic, but since we're talking covers--and since Kendo is obsessed with classic horror films/monsters--might I suggest that RiceRokit cover The Suburbs' "Monster Man?")

They also have a string of live dates coming up in Southern California:

Aug 12 @ 8:00 pm: The Bluebeat Lounge at the Knitting Factory LA (Hollywood, California)
Aug 15 @ 8:00 pm: Winston’s with Mike Pinto (Ocean Beach, California)
Sep 4 @ 8:00 pm: SOhO with The English Beat (Santa Barbara, California)
Sep 5 @ 8:00 pm: 710 Beach Club with Split Finger and The Upbeat (Pacific Beach, California)
Sep 19 @ 8:00 pm: Belly Up Tavern with Common Sense (Solana Beach, California)
Sep 26 @ 8:00 pm: BOXeight with OneLovefor...Music’s Benefit for Global Angels (Los Angeles, California)